The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1887-01-01
A CUBAN BULL-FtGHT.
How the Pugnacious Animals Are Dis
patched by tho SkilIful Matadores.


How the Pugnacious Animals Are Dis
patched by tho SkilIfuI Matadores.
There were six bulls engaged in six
separate contests, and the m0dus oper-
andi was much the same in each case.
The pEc0dores use as lance pole ter
minating in a short, sharp spike When
the bull daShes at the morse the picadOre
lunges at the animal, wounding him
usually in the shoulder. In most cases
he pays but scant attention to the irri-
tating thrust, but cores the horse, hap
PLY making short and mortal work of
that portion of the combat. The rider
disengages himself as best he may, and
while doing so a bdnderiLlerO, to at
tract the attention of the bull, filings
red cloak in his face. This calls him
off, and he makes chase, being diverted
in his course by others of his torment
ors, until he is worked up to high
pitch of fury. While this goes on the
thousands of spectators shout their
loudest, and when an adroit turn or
a clever coup is made by performer
the more enthusiastic throw their caps
into the arena, crying Bravo, toro"
''Bien pegado hombrer And the am
phitheater is a seething, bowling mass
of humanity.
During the progress of the fight the
bGnderitteroS, in order to keep the bull
in an enraged condition, thrust sticks,
in the ends of which are barbed points
Qike the half of an arrow in his neck,
near the shoulders. To execute this
with certainty and address the per-
former must face the bull. and the
boldness with which he takes up his
position is surprising. While one ban
derjLlero swiftly delivers the barbs
another stands close at hand ready with
his dull red cloak to cover the retreat
of his companion. In Spain l am told
that when bull is indisposed to show
fight or sinks away and fails to be
aroused by these maddening weapons
they are supplemented by fireworks
which ignite when they touch the body
and blister them to agony and fury.
None of the animals engaged in the
Plaza de la Habana required this fiend-
ish stimulant to incite them to action.
On the contrary they entered into the
spirit of the fight with as much eager
ness and animation as did the per-
formers. Senior Francisco Alvarez,
who graciously accorded me a seat
in his box and who has witnessed
many trays in Madrid and Seville, as
sured me that he had never seen so
brisk set of pugnacious bulls. These
animals, by the way, are reared in An
dalusia especially for the ring and cost
five hundred dollars each to land
in Havana. Their pedigrees were
given in the programme with many de-
tails anent their breeding and condition.
The supreme moment at length arrives.
After sufficient teasing and torturing
the enraged animal must be killed.
The esp0d0, who has closely watched
the manguvres of the bHnderUierOS,
comes jauntily forward, bows grace
fully right and left to the vast throng,
and throws his black embroidered cap
high into the air. He carries q short,
straight sword and scarlet cloak. He
advances towards his antagonist and
provokes his attention. He eXasperates
him by Haunting the red mantle, the
bull ''goes for him. and he leaps
adroitly on one side These movements
ICDOdICu SCNCIdl lllllCS, ANU WlCl
he gets his victim we'll in position the
skillful naetad0r with tiendsh grace de-
livers his weapon almost to the hilt be-
tween the shoulder blade and the spine.
1t seems miracle that he is not i'm
paled on the horns of the beast, from
whose mouth gushes p torrent of blood.
He reels, RECEIVERS himself, makes a
feeble show of resistance and falls
dead. The trumpets blare out fan
fare, the victorious assailant RECEIVERS
his cap, smiles and bows low to the
President of the day, who is seated in
"a cosy box, and the mighty multitude
express their delight and approval in
a frantic paroXysmal howl of acclama-
ton. The masculine portion of the
audience sway about with ferocity of
movement suggestive of tigers rather
than human beings, the ladies wildly
wave their fans and handkerchiefs, and
even the children join in the universal
and bewldering panic. 1t lisa moment
of madness "a stupendous spectacle Of
Roman barbarty of which we read in
histories of the past.-Hacana Cor. N.
Y. World.